CBS2 is providing the opportunity for Garden City Mayoral candidates to answer the same five questions. Here are answers from candidate Molly Lenty. There was no editing of their written responses.
1. If you become Mayor, what will your top three priorities be?
My top three priorities are Guided Growth, Public Safety, and Fiscal Accountability.
Guided Growth means ensuring development happens through us, not to us. I’ll lead a citywide visioning process to preserve the unique character of each neighborhood while guiding smart, strategic zoning and infrastructure decisions that reflect our shared values.
Public Safety will remain our foundation. I’ll strengthen support for our police department while pursuing regional partnerships and creative funding solutions to enhance safety along our streets, Greenbelt, and business corridors – without added taxpayer burden.
Fiscal Accountability is key to maintaining stability and trust. I’ll bring transparency, disciplined budgeting, and innovation to ensure growth pays for growth and taxpayer dollars are used efficiently and openly.
2.How does your approach to governing differ from your opponents, and why should voters choose you?
My approach is rooted in leadership, not management. I bring more than 25 years of experience leading complex organizations, building coalitions, and delivering measurable results. I don’t just respond to change – I guide it. Garden City needs a mayor who can see across the horizon, connect the right partners, and bring solutions forward before challenges become crises.
While others focus on operations, I focus on vision, collaboration, and execution. I’ve led diverse teams across the public and private sectors and know how to align people around a shared purpose. I’ll bring that same proactive, transparent, and strategic approach to City Hall – ensuring growth happens through us, not to us – while keeping Garden City safe, accountable, and thriving.
3. Garden City is experiencing rapid growth. What strategies would you implement in your first budget cycle to maintain fiscal responsibility while funding essential infrastructure like parks and pathways?
In my first budget cycle, I’ll focus on aligning every dollar with a clear, community-driven vision. That starts with prioritizing infrastructure that enhances safety and connectivity – like parks, pathways, and active transportation routes – while maintaining strict fiscal discipline.
Having managed large public budgets, I know how to stretch resources through grant capture, public-private partnerships, and regional cost-sharing that expand our capacity without increasing taxpayer burden. I’ll also ensure growth pays for growth by aligning zoning and development fees with infrastructure needs. With transparency, measurable goals, and proactive planning, we’ll keep Garden City financially strong while investing in the quality of life that makes it thrive.
4. What steps would you take to improve training, resources, and accountability for the Police department?
Our police officers do an outstanding job serving Garden City, and it’s our responsibility to give them the tools, training, and trust they need to succeed. I’ll start by partnering with the Chief and department leadership to identify priority areas for modernized training – such as de-escalation, community engagement, and mental health response – so officers are well-equipped for today’s challenges.
We invest heavily in public safety, and I’ll work to bring additional resources to the table through state and federal grants, regional partnerships, and private foundation support – enhancing our department’s capacity without added taxpayer burden.
Accountability builds confidence, so I’ll promote transparent reporting, regular performance reviews, and community input opportunities to ensure we’re measuring outcomes, not just activity. A strong, well-supported, and trusted police force keeps every neighborhood and business safe.
5. With the mayor’s transition from a long-serving incumbent, how would you build consensus among residents with different views on growth and community identity?
Change can feel uncertain after decades of consistent leadership, but it also opens the door for fresh collaboration. My approach begins with listening and inclusion – bringing residents, businesses, and community partners to the table early and often.
I will establish local advisory committees that represent both key city topics – like housing, safety, and infrastructure – and distinct areas of town. These groups will provide direct input to City Hall, ensuring decisions are shaped with the community, not around it.
Consensus isn’t about uniformity – it’s about trust and shared purpose. Through transparency, open dialogue, and a citywide visioning process, I’ll help align diverse perspectives around one clear goal: guiding growth through us, not to us while preserving the identity that makes Garden City special.
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